Strapped but Not Held Down

Everyday I'm reminded how blessed I am regardless the chaos, noise or discomfort I experience during the day. My journey of discomfort began in November. When I had just been given clearance to do the thing I love so much to do and which keeps me grounded, I walked into a surgery yet again leaving me stuck in the reclining chair and at the mercy of many others. 

It feels like forever ago I had four drains stitched to my sides leaving me with very 

few options for clothing and comfort. 

My Mom and I ventured out weeks after surgery and ended up at Cheeks to try on clothes and feel somewhat normal. Nothing about having a drain baby makes you feel normal especially when you look four months preggers. Praise God I can laugh and not cry every time hard faces me. 

This will go down as a stellar Mother/Daughter date. 

It feels like forever ago someone had to bathe me and pour my coffee for me. I still can't run (big, long weary sigh) but I know I can. I can't lift weights but I know my body is strong. 

After weekly appointments at the University of Washington Medical center post surgery, things came to a screeching halt. The reconstructive surgery had been scheduled for April sixth giving my body one last final time to heal before the summer fun began and a fall race training schedule would need to resume. 

...Enter Covid-19...

I've later learned that many things came to a halt. My surgeon explained that in a matter of a day, her three surgeries went from normal waiting room procedures to two family members only and by the third surgery no one allowed in the waiting room... all in one day. She also shared how patients, recently diagnosed with breast cancer, were told to push pause on upcoming surgeries to remove cancer and to take extra chemotherapy until operating rooms opened up once again. 

My heart sunk.

I immediately thought back to when my sister was diagnosed and the fear surrounding something terminal growing in her body. Removing the cancer could not have happened any quicker. The fear knowing you have a detonated bomb ticking in your body is scary enough yet alone told to sit and be calm. 

For all the discomfort I experience with iron clad expanders that, as close to explaining, feels like a too small, too tight, broken down underwire bra, I can live a few more months for these terrified patients to have surgery first. (they're not really iron.)

Yes, the new surgery date throws off my well-thought out plans but given today's chaos, it could be worse. 

Our kids are healthy. 

Our home is safe. 

Our jobs secure. 

Our faith is solid. 

Our marriage thriving. 

Our gas tank is full. 

Our support system remains present. 

We still have our laughter. 

We still have the church.

We still have our health.

We will still have fun this summer. 

In all my time now at home, I've been able to purge many things from my computer creating additional space and storage. Having both preventive surgeries has cleared mind space where fear once lived. The computer was desperately in need of the same thing. One of the tasks has been to go through all the thousands of pictures I struggle to delete. In doing so, I ran across this picture of Tim and I from 2014 that, not only is hilariously fitting, but pretty much sums things up as of late. 

Our hands are full; our bellies full of laughter. 

It may feel like our countries situation is strapping many of us down with unexpected loss and freedom. The ability to worship together, visit with friends and shop at our favorite local stores halted. 

But God. 

God can not be strapped down, confined to a box or told He has boundaries. He is bigger than all our fears, doubts and delays in preventive surgeries. God has purpose in our waiting.

It does feel like forever ago when I last ran, but I know my time to run will be coming soon. Until then, I'll keep purging the photos, organizing my inbox and give thanks for all the things 

God has blessed our family with including being drain free. 

What are you thankful for today?

{ Having fun; making memories. }

{ I will burn this pillow when all said and done. }

{ No drains and finally free. }

{ Post-op covid style. }

Caught On Camera ...

Every family has the sweet and salty moments of life. I like to capture a little of everything. 

{ The ugly. }

{ The good. }

{ The funny. }

{ The loud. }

{ The naughty. }

{ The melt your Mommy. }

#stayhome #school & #survive

Let's first address the monkey in the room ...

It's been silent here. 

For good reason with all things chasing sanity and survival. 

Rather than a bunch of words you may or may not read, let's get you caught up with a picture glimpse into what the Broersma #stayhomestayhealthy has looked like this Spring.

{ Distant Learning. }

When news of school shifting too distant learning, I first panicked gathering all the ideas
and then attempted to execute a plan.
Pinterest is great. Pinterest has the ability to expose two types of people: Always Nailed It or 100% Failed It.
I had great intentions those first few weeks of school being put into action in our home. We homeschooled for seven years so I knew the steps and process. The catch was some students weren't as receptive to my Pinterest ideas as I was to implementing them daily. Regardless, we made it work... through tears, struggles, redirection and long walks to reset... we have been making this work.
Baylee's teacher has been reading stories to her on Marco Polo and Charlie has been crushing his school goals with impressive self motivation. Addison helped Myriam with her reading for a bit then shifted to her
online school program.
Tim and I are so proud of the kids for making the abrupt shift in learning. Did we do it well? Not everyday.
And that's okay.
Summer is almost here and some learning goals will stay in place throughout the
next few months which is okay too.
Our homeschool cart is now a part of the living room and I'll try to squeeze
learning when the moment presents itself.
If this has taught me anything, it's that our decision to put the kids in school was a healthy choice.
Yes, I'm Mom and teacher, but I long for the day when I'm just Mom.

{ Projects & Play }

We found many opportunities to learn outside through activities we call chores. Picking up winter branches, planting seeds and taking care of the lawn gave a much needed break from being inside. God has blessed us with a dry Spring. Yes, we've had some rainy days but more than anything, the skies have been blue and warm enough to step into the fresh air. 

{ Learning & Growing. }

Our seeds did okay. Some grew and others got moldy or stolen by our neighborhood squirrels. Even the cute popsicle stick birdhouse Myriam made was robbed of its birdseed by the pesky squirrel hanging from the gutter. Our snap peas are now well out of the ground and beginning to make their way up the garden trellis. Our walks through the neighborhood always prove entertaining as the girls chase bunnies, seek out deer, look for animal tracks and watch the skunk cabbage almost grow taller than Miss Bee herself. 

Charlie's learned to have guitar lessons via Zoom or FaceTime even though his practicing hours have lessened slightly with outside distractions. 

I'm most thankful for the thing I hate the most; screen time. Baylee can actually sit still while learning from ABC Mouse and for that I'm grateful. 

{ Self care. }

I'm about ready for another haircut and have had to walk away from my scissors many times over. In a weak moment I did manage to foil my own hair and even tried putting my human cutting skills into dog grooming with our poor puppy cutting her locks too. Major kudos to dog groomers. I will never do that again. 

As for skin care, well, Addi is always so good to do the masks, wash the face and include her little sisters in the pampering process. 

I haven't taken hair clients for years, but still trim the family's hair. It's been awhile since not having the ability to reach over my head due to recovery.  When family members called and told me they were looking special, I pulled the basics outside and set up shop in the carport. No worries, the family wore masks and hands were washed. As for the family gray hairs collecting among a few... well, the stores are closed and I'm all out of color so truth be told you're no brunette any longer. 

{ Recreational Play a.k.a. PE }

This is vital. This is necessary. 

Myriam and I have been taking two mile walks searching for teddy bears and hearts in neighboring windows while sharing in deep discussions or soaking up the silence. Our loop usually takes us to Dad's office for a cup of water and back home through the forest. We've also had many trips to Berthusan Park getting lost on the trails and letting Millie explore in the trees. 

On the warmer days, Charlie and Myriam took on a new adventure of floating down the creek. Quite comical to watch and thankful it's not too deep. I see this happening more often with summer fast approaching. 

Addi told me I needed new hiking friends after our Sunday hike up Sumas Mountain. We didn't make it to the top but a little over two miles in for lunch proved good for all of us. 

The benefit of all things being cancelled and closed is family time. 

Yes, somedays I think we've had too much, but Tim knew we needed to see a different set 

of four walls for this weekend. 

A quick trip to Vantage, WA was exactly what all of us needed. The drive there was enough for me. Silent. 

It was incredibly refreshing to not have bickering, teasing or whining the entire way over the pass. Once we arrived at the private campsite, Grandpa Doug greeted us with a hilariously, well thought out scavenger hunt for the kids. The only piece he forgot was to look up at the growing gray clouds and massive downpour that led us all running down the hillside being pelted with twenty-five mph winds and sideways rain. 

You know it's stormy when the tumbleweed passes you by sprinting back towards the motorhome drenched in sunny clothing. Ahh, no worries. None of us were hurt and the hunt continued the following morning with the kids "saving the world from the coronavirus." 

You can only imagine the eye-rolls and jokes made about this game getting the kids hiking two miles up a steep hillside all for ice cream at the end. 

And no, the water was not warm which is why you only saw these two crazies swimming in it. 

{ Break time. }

We now await the reopening of all the things and cross our fingers for in person classrooms next fall...

And if not, we will make that work too.